Overview

There were again tournaments for men and women. The 2004 water polo tournaments were both held at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in the Athens Olympic Sports Complex Spiros Loues. This was also the site of all the swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming events.

The format of the men’s tournament had a slight change in 2004. There were again 12 teams who contested two preliminary round-robin pools of six teams each. In 1996 and 2004 the top four teams in each pool had advanced to quarter-finals. But in Athens the winner of each pool was seeded directly into the semi-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams in each pool played quarter-final matches to move onto the semis. The semis and final rounds were single-elimination for the medals. The lower-placed teams in the preliminary pools played consolation matches to determine places 7-12.

The women’s field was increased to eight teams, from six in 2000. There were two preliminary round-robin pools of four teams each. As with the men, the winner of each pool was seeded directly into the semis, while the second- and third-placed teams in each pool played quarter-final matches to move onto the semis. The semis and final rounds were single-elimination for the medals. The last-placed teams in the preliminary pools played a single match to determine places 7-8.

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